How To Get Your Free Government Credit Report
September 22, 2009 by Andy Zain
Filed under Credit Report
The Fair Credit Reporting Act, or FCRA, entitles you to a free copy of your own government credit report every year. You are assured of the privacy and accuracy of information when you deal with the authorized consumer reporting companies.
Your credit report has information like where you live, how your bills are paid, whether you have been bankrupt, sued or arrested. The consumer reporting agencies sell your credit report to companies that need the information to help them make decisions about whether to lend you money, extend you credit, rent you a property, offer you insurance or give you a job.
There are a few reasons why you would want a copy of your credit report. You might want to make sure the report contains accurate and factual information before you apply for a loan, for insurance or new employment, to make sure that there isn’t anything incorrectly in the report that could affect your approval chances.
Checking your credit report annually is also a precaution against identity theft. Also, if you have had credit declined, your credit report could contain information that will tell you the reason this happened.
You are protected by the Act and have certain rights as well. At this time, there are three consumer reporting agencies nationally, but they are combined under one mailing address, toll free number and website. You have the right to apply for a credit report from each of these agencies, once every year.
A good place to start is to visit the website – www. Annualcreditreport. Com, where you will find answers to any questions you might have and information as to how to apply for your report to be sent to you. You will have to fill in the usual information to identify yourself: name, birth date, address, SS number. You will need to give your past address if you have moved within the past two years. There may be extra questions asked in order to make sure you are entitled to get your report.
There are websites claiming to be able to get your credit report for you, but the only legal and genuine website is annualcreditreport. Com, so don’t waste you time with any other sites. The scam sites might ask you to subscribe or sign up for something, and you will usually end up paying money for nothing. Other sites direct you to another site where they try to sell you something related to credit. These sites have no access to credit reporting.
You privacy is assured under the FCRA, and you will never receive emails or letters from the authorized website when you apply for your government credit report.
